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Beckford's Pencilfish
BeginnerNannostomus beckfordi
Small tetra with characteristic thin pencil-like body. Beautiful gold and black longitudinal stripes running along the body, with mature males developing red coloration on the belly. Peaceful and popular for community tanks.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
23〜28℃
Lifespan
3-5 years
Size
4-6cm
Diet
Flakes, frozen foods
About
Beckford's pencilfish (Nannostomus beckfordi) is a slender characin widely distributed across the Amazon and Orinoco River basins and the Guiana region of South America. At 3–4 cm, its pencil-thin body is marked with a sharp gold-and-black longitudinal stripe and reddish fin highlights. Among the most readily available and beginner-friendly pencilfish species, it is also among the most distinctive: during the day it swims horizontally, but at night it adopts a characteristic head-down angled resting position — often alarming new keepers who interpret this as illness. Soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0–7.0) at 23–28°C is preferred, with blackwater setup enhancing coloration. Peaceful and compatible with most small fish and shrimp; however, it can be susceptible to fin nipping by more boisterous tankmates, so careful selection of companions is advisable. Diet consists of fine granular foods, frozen daphnia, and baby brine shrimp. Breeding by egg-scattering over fine plants is achievable in a well-established, stable setup.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Basic Info
Origin
Amazon and Orinoco River basins, South America
Lifespan
3-5 years
Size
4-6cm
Temperature
23〜28℃
Diet
Flakes, frozen foods
Care Guide
Care Specifications
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: br-choku editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Nannostomus beckfordi Günther, 1872
Synonyms: Nannostomus anomalus Steindachner, 1876, Nannostomus aripiragensis Meinken, 1931, Nannostomus aripirangensis Meinken, 1931, Nannostomus beckfordi anomalus Steindachner, 1876, Nannostomus beckfordi aripirangensis Meinken, 1931, Nannostomus beckfordi beckfordi
Authority databases: FishBase · GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listed
Sources: FishBase / Seriously Fish / CITES Appendices (Checklist)
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Beckford's Pencilfish Listings
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